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Installing Virtualbox with an updated kernel

Now, I want to install virtualbox. But yast advises me to make important changes in the kernel version, and I'm afraid I can end up breaking the system, and I NEED the computer so I do not want to break it and spend one day to reinstall everything again. These are the suggested changes:

What do you think I should do? More generally, do you know of a proper tutorial to install Virtualbox and run it with non-default kernels?

Re: Installing Virtualbox with an updated kernel

Thanks for the fast reply!

By the way, let me ask a side question, as it is related to this but I could not find an answer with Google. What's the difference, advantages, etc between the kernel head and kernel stable repositories? I have currently both repositories installed. Would you advice to keep just one to avoid risk of mixing package versions?

Re: Installing Virtualbox with an updated kernel

Originally Posted by onturenio

Thanks for the fast reply!

By the way, let me ask a side question, as it is related to this but I could not find an answer with Google. What's the difference, advantages, etc between the kernel head and kernel stable repositories? I have currently both repositories installed. Would you advice to keep just one to avoid risk of mixing package versions?

Kernel:/stable is tested to work on Tumbleweed and usually has no problems also with Leap. Kernel:/head is meant for developers and advanced testers so might have still glitches from time to time, not recommended for everyday use unless you have a compelling reason to use such a bleeding edge kernel. By the way you often find ReleaseCandidate kernels on Kernel:/head while you only find released kernels on Kernel:/stable.

Re VirtualBox, the upstream version 5.2.2 available here https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Linux_Downloads works with the 4.14 stable kernel, without YaST complaining about incompatible KMPs. You need kernel-devel and kernel-default-devel packages matching the version of your running kernel though.

Re: Installing Virtualbox with an updated kernel

Virtualbox from the openSUSE repos have pre-compiled kernel modules which are likely specific to the kernel in that repo.
If you've installed a special kernel of some kind, you'll likely need to install Virtualbox from the Oracle website, which will build kernel modules on the fly during install for whatever kernel is running.

Re: Installing Virtualbox with an updated kernel

Thanks for the hints. I have now Virtualbox running. First, I switched to an updated kernel (4.14.3) but from the stable repo. Then, I added the repo http://ftp.halifax.rwth-aachen.de/op.../KMP/standard/ and installed Virtualbox with all suggested dependencies. After the installation, it gave an error regarding modules, kernel sources, etc, so I had to install the kernel sources and to manually run vboxconfig to recompile some modules. It was easier than it sounds.
Anyway, it works nicely now, although I can not boot Windows on it. But I guess that's a matter of another threat